Are You Able to Have Your Federal Crime Expunged?

You may already know that you can sometimes have your record expunged for state crimes, the least serious of the crimes. Expungement is a process that takes place where your records are physically destroyed, but it is not always possible depending on the severity and circumstances of the crime. In most cases, the process takes place so that your record cannot be accessed in any way, which is a great way for people to move forward with their life, especially when they are looking for employment or housing.

Federal Crime Expungement: Is it Possible?

There are many types of crimes that could fall under federal law, from violent offenses like assault and kidnapping, to identity theft, arson, cyber crimes, and more. Because these crimes always seem to be charged so harshly, you may wonder if you can have your record expunged if you have committed one. Having one of these serious crimes on your record can have huge effects on your life, from where you attend college, to where you travel, to where you are able to live.

Here’s the bad news: For most federal crimes, expungement is not an option. Here’s the good news: There are some exceptions to this rule. A federal conviction may be a good candidate for expungement if a conviction is based on a law that ends up being unconstitutional later on, a judge finds that the conviction was the result of government misconduct, or you were convicted of certain drug possession offenses under the age of 21, and now you have no drug offenses. In some cases, instead of expungement, the court will accept record sealing, which is a different process.

Each state has approved guidelines for who is eligible for expungement. In many cases, non-violent, non-serious types of crimes will be dismissed under expungement, as long as a person meets all the other requirements. If you have been convicted of a federal crime years ago and want to see if you qualify for expungement, the best place you can turn is to an experienced criminal defense attorney. Call us today.